ITB December 2024/January 2025 - Magazine - Page 19
The most challenging management issues
often involve navigating personalities,
emotions and motivations that result in
complex scenarios. What is the best
approach for leaders to handle them?
WORDS MEGAN BREEN
hen challenging issues arise at work, they often
involve other people. The combination of differing
personalities, emotions and motivations can create
tricky management scenarios in any workplace,
and they demand a keen sense of empathy, communication
and adaptability.
Whether it is delivering tough feedback that inspires rather than
demotivates, untangling communication breakdowns that stall
progress, managing emotional reactions or overcoming resistance
to change, there are techniques leaders can adopt to help manage
the issues without creating further problems.
Dealing with any issue effectively comes down to good
communication skills and planning ahead for difficult conversations,
says change and leadership coach Louise Gilbert.
“To help address any kind of tricky issue, leaders should be having
three ongoing conversations with their team members. They should
be asking, ‘How are you going? How are you getting better? How are
you feeling?’” she says.
That will set you up to deal with most challenges as they arise,
she adds.
“The second tip is to plan and prepare well before going into
any conversation that may be difficult. In most cases, people want
to just wing it, and there’s a time and a place for that. Even
impromptu actors prepare, and if you plan ahead, you will be able
to manage the situation better.”
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